KUALA LUMPUR: Declaring that Umno Youth’s loyalty towards the party is unwavering and steadfast, movement chief Dr Akmal Saleh has rubbished allegations that it is an “agent” of Perikatan Nasional.
“I want to state this clearly before party president (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) that we are not, have never been, and will never be an agent to Perikatan.
“Our love and loyalty towards Umno must not be questioned,” he said in his policy speech at the Umno youth annual meeting here yesterday.
Dr Akmal also pledged that Umno Youth would not waver from upholding the party’s values and struggles.
He added that the fact Umno is part of the Federal Government has not changed its position on certain issues.
“I have said it before, we can be friends with anyone.
“But if you touch on our religion, race or the Malay Rulers, we will rise and fight you to the end,” he warned.
Certain parties had questioned Dr Akmal’s support for the government, as he is seen as being critical of certain decisions by the unity government of which Umno is a part.
He said the wing would continue to speak out against issues that went against the party’s principles.
“Do you still remember the controversial socks issue? Donations by a brewery to schools? BlackRock? Allocations to religious schools and the supply of local rice?
“These are among the issues that are close to the Malays and Muslims in the county. It is us, Umno Youth, who spoke up about them.
“We are never afraid to talk and voice out issues that are not in line with our principles,” Dr Akmal added.
He also reminded Umno not to be too comfortable in its role in complementing the unity government.
“Umno needs to return to political dominance.
“Instead of 26 seats, we must restore Umno’s and Barisan Nasional’s two-thirds representation in the Dewan Rakyat,” he said, referring to the current number of elected Umno MPs in Parliament.
